Technology is an integral part of business, government, education and community.
Lincoln is faces more and more situations where technology in the community is an
important factor in decisions made about economic development, business, education,
and government.

In the summer of 2000 I organized a Technology Response Team to examine concerns raised
about the availability of technology in the community. That Response Team issued a
report which examined the technology competitiveness of the City. To further raise
the importance of technology in the community I formed a permanent technology council
to assist in creating a technology strategy and vision for the community. The Mayor's
Technology Council will assist in identifying how Lincoln can remain competitive and
responsive to existing and potential new technology related companies and the community
at large.

Lincoln Journal-Star Publisher Bill Johnston and University of Nebraska Alumni Association
Executive Director Ed Paquette co-chair the Mayor's Technology Council. The Technology
Council will have a broad based open membership of technology providers, businesses who
are integrating technology into their operations, business organizations, economic
development specialists, private developers, university representatives, citizens, and
state and local government.

In addition to forming a community based technology strategy, the Council will also provide
important ideas that can be used in the development of the City-County Comprehensive Plan
that is being redone this year. Technology is the newest component of a community's
infrastructure and must be included as part of the Comprehensive Plan discussions.
Technology is now an essential part of a city's infrastructure along with streets,
sewers and other utilities. For Lincoln to remain competitive as a place to live and
do business we need to identify how we as a community address these demands.

Lincoln is an attractive community. As technology becomes a increasingly important factor
for businesses we want Lincoln to be an attractive prosperous environment for businesses
reliant on technology to consider as a place to locate or expand.